Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo was born in 1907 in Coyoacán, Mexico City. She was painter known for her many self-portraits and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico.

Frida Kahlo saw art as a way to survive. Born in Mexico City, 1907, she nearly died in a traffic accident as a teenager. To cope during her recovery, she painted.

In 1922, Frida met her life-long partner Diego Rivera and they became dedicated to art and communism. On canvas, Frida mixed together her personal life and political views. The results were surreal, dream-like, strange and raw.

By the early 1940s Frida’s art was taking off, but her health was in decline. 

Surrealist painting of injured naked woman on a bed, man fully clothed standing over her covered in blood, two birds holding a sign above

A Few Small Nips, 1935

She continued painting until her death at the age of 47 in 1954. 

During her life, Frida was profoundly ahead of her time, dealing with ideas around identity politics which only recently became widespread.

Her work has forged the way for conversations about feminism and disability – challenging ableist ideas across the world.

Today, Frida is a cultural icon like no other. But, for her, art was just survival.

Portrait of Frida Kahlo crying with painting of her husband, Diego, with a third eye on her forehead

Diego and I, 1949

Portrait of Frida Kahlo in large headdress with flowers with her husband, Diego, on her forehead

Self Portrait as a Tehuana, 1943

Self portrait of Frida Kahlo in floral headdress and a necklace made from thorns around her neck, background of stormy sky and leaves and twigs

Self Portrait, Dedicated to Dr Eloesser, 1940


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